[minidiamond]

Hi Michaela
Just catching up with this topic, apologies for the delay.

ZJB & I have had somewhat similar journeys and treatment so much of what she says applies to me.

Your FS is right in one sense- that the STATS are likely to mean you'll have fewer embryos at 43 ... but they are stats only. I got 15+ eggs on every single egg collection and while they didn't translate into heaps of embryos, when you get to the desperate stage like we were, I believe anything is worth considering. I went a long way down the path to CGH at Genea in Sydney, we ended up having only two embies to test so at $6000, decided against it. However I was also influenced by the fact that of the two D&Cs 'product of conception' I had tested, NEITHER came back as chromosomally abnormal, so while it's probable as your FS says, and stats are against you, it wasn't the case with me. I will never know why I miscarried but poor embie/egg quality is most likely the answer. In fact, one of the reasons Genea recommends CGH is in older women suffering recurrent m/c. However, as ZJB said, it does not increase your chances of keeping a baby, it eliminates the chromosomally imperfect embies so anything you implant you know it ok from a chromosome perspective (obviously doesn't account for implantation issues etc which could also be a cause.)

There is a difference between PGD testing & CGH testing (PGD tends to be the generic name for embryo testings) - worth researching a bit. There's an up to date thread on CGH testing on another forum, PM me if you want the link, you could ask that group about clinics in Melb that do it if you wanted to go down that path.

Regarding prednisone I actually had very few side effects. I was on 25mgs per day and took it through to the end of the first trimester. I was bloated early in my pregnancy but that may not have been due to pred. My OB actually seemed to think it can mask the effects of morning sickness & I didn't have much so that could've been one benefit.

I don't think you're making too many appointments - arm yourself with as much info as possible ! However I do think it's worth going to see another FS at a clinic that does PGD or CGH.

The recurrent m/c clinic should also be able to give you more info on issues around implantation, uterine lining, natural killer cells etc.

Best of luck.

This post has been edited by Liltuss: 23/04/2012, 11:38 AM

[cherubcheeks]

Hi

I have also suffered several MC and I had further testing done on the embryo's after D&C's.

I ended up doing PGD/IVF as my MC were due to abnormal chromosome issues.

I hope this helps. Good luck and I hope you have a sticky one soon xxx

[Michaela3333]

Hi Liltus, thanks for your reply.

I've been prescribed 5mg (x2 daily) predisolone which seems a lot lower than your dose. As I mentioned, our Ob was reluctant but we pushed for it, wondering now if the low dose is a placebo?! Also wondered how long after you stopped taking it did the side effects wear off? I heard that you have to come off it slowly. Also I am still breast feeding my 2 year old so wondering if its safe. I know I should've asked dr at the time but is so much to process on the spot.

I actually think I'm ovulating now - 2 weeks after MC so thinking of starting it now. Was told to start first day of next cycle but don't want to wait. Or should I wait until I get a BFP??

Re: CGH. we went to a Dr at Melb IVF and they used the term PDG but described it as if it was CGH i.e. full chromosomal testing and then said they are the only clinic in Australia that do it. so bit confused about that.

[Glitterz]

michaela 3333-- just read your last post and needed to reply. CGH is the new form of testing for PGD. MIVF and IVF australia are the only clinics that offer CGH testing (testing all chromosomes in an embryo). Other clinics who offer PGD use another type of testing called "FISH" that only test a few chromosomes. These include from memory 6,8,13,18,21 X and Y.
CGH will eventually be the process for testing, and FISH will be the older technique.

Good luck with everything x

This post has been edited by Glitterz: 30/04/2012, 02:09 PM

[zjb2]

Hi again OP,

I just wanted to add two thoughts.

The first is that yes it could be possible that it is the age of the eggs that is solely contributing to your miscarriages but not necessarily. That was our initial thought for me but it turned out that a form of Male Factor infertility was increasing our miscarriage rate 4 times. So if you took my baseline line risk of 50% chance of miscarriage and multiple it by 4 you see we were destined to continue having miscarriages without intervention. We had the Male Factor treated and so far the pregnancy is going well, without it I doubt I would be pregnant now.

I need to clarify what the PP posted about PGD and CGH testing. Yes many clinics test using FISH but more than the two mentioned do CGH testing. As previously writen both Liltuss and I went down the array-CGH testing path at Genea (who have clinics elsewhere in the country) so I think you need to be very careful about who does what testing, and more importantly don't believe what one clinic says about another. Get the details direct from the clinic you are interest in using (if that is what you decide to do). In fact if your experiences are similar to mine, you have do a few more consultations than a normal IVF cycle if you do a PGD one including one with the scientist so you will/should get a clear understanding of what is going to be done.

Well done on the progress you have made.